Beta RS 450 streetable enduro - opinions?

[feralchimp]

The theft of my CRF250L has me thinking crazy thoughts about its potential replacement. Anyone got knowledge (or wild-ass armchair internet conjecture) on the value proposition of this bike?

[Chippertheripper]

Sexy as fuck. 'Sall I got.

[feralchimp]

^^^^ more than acceptable level of detail.

[Pigman]

Rare bike....Prob hard to find parts for and wrench... I would snag a WR250 or DRZ over that

[gregp]

All of the newer Beta's have been getting rave reviews - for the most part - mostly when compared to KTM's. The Beta's Sachs forks can be made to work very well, and for 2014, they are valved a bit stiffer and hold the front end up better. Compared to the KTM's, the Beta's have very *smooth* motors. They are still carbureted, though. It is acknowledged that Beta has an FI system ready to go, but they chose to stay with carbs. This gives them worse fuel economy, but many people like carbs due to their simplicity, and ease of "trail-side fixes".
I was seriously considering one when I bought my KTM 350 earlier this year. I still sometimes wonder if I made the right choice.
Beta has seriously stepped up their game, and a WR-R or a DRZ is not even close to competing as a serious dirt mount. That said, if you are looking for more of a 50/50 trail/street machine, a WR-R or a DRZ is what you want. A Beta or a KTM are 95/5 dirt/street.
JMO.

[feralchimp]

All of the newer Beta's have been getting rave reviews - for the most part - mostly when compared to KTM's. The Beta's Sachs forks can be made to work very well, and for 2014, they are valved a bit stiffer and hold the front end up better. Compared to the KTM's, the Beta's have very *smooth* motors. They are still carbureted, though. It is acknowledged that Beta has an FI system ready to go, but they chose to stay with carbs. This gives them worse fuel economy, but many people like carbs due to their simplicity, and ease of "trail-side fixes".
I was seriously considering one when I bought my KTM 350 earlier this year. I still sometimes wonder if I made the right choice.
Beta has seriously stepped up their game, and a WR-R or a DRZ is not even close to competing as a serious dirt mount. That said, if you are looking for more of a 50/50 trail/street machine, a WR-R or a DRZ is what you want. A Beta or a KTM are 95/5 dirt/street.
JMO.

My sub-goal would be to get something I could tard out for trackdays, and that seems like a more reasonable use case for a 450 than a 350. If only Honda made a streetable 450 with EFI...

[typeone]

if the new Husa'varnas dont tickle me... Beta will be my next bike. i can't stop dreaming about it. (250 or 300 RR) but i'm all dirt.

[gregp]

...anything is "Streetable".

[feralchimp]

...anything is "Streetable".

I like the way you think, and have heard similar sentiments 'round these parts before, but is there a FAQ someplace that describes which rings of hell I'd need to slog through to plate (for example) a CRF450X in Mass?

Update: reading this now... http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...et-legal-in-MA

[Pigman]

I like the way you think, and have heard similar sentiments 'round these parts before, but is there a FAQ someplace that describes which rings of hell I'd need to slog through to plate (for example) a CRF450X in Mass?

Update: reading this now... http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...et-legal-in-MA

This is one of the reasons I chose the WR450F over the a YZ450, CRF450 or KTM.....Has a few things that make it a almost ready to ride supermoto and with the ease of NH laws as they want you to plate the enduros out for street crossings and such is easy

[Pigman]

Here you go.....



http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/mcy/4093763349.html

[Point37]

under 300cc can be titled in VT without living in the state...but you would have to go up there to get it inspected...guy on the TW forum did it...but it wouldn't help much on a 450...i'd look at an already titled bike
http://tw200forum.com/forum/general-...itle-bike.html

http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/4038008196.html
http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/4056145782.html
http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/4062741686.html
http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/4076197834.html

[feralchimp]

A buddy of mine warned that one of the differences between dirt bikes and street bikes is the absence of a cush drive on dirtbikes and many supermotos. The directness of the connection between the wheels and the powertrain with no cush drive sounds like it wears stuff out *much* faster on the street. Well, that's where I'll be 99% of the time, so I'm looking harder at bikes like the Husky TR650 Strada.

UPDATE: And after some Googling, it sounds like cush drives are a holy war topic akin to Macs vs. PCs: http://www.supermotojunkie.com/showt...ons-Kush-drive

The good news is that it sounds like you can find cush drive hubs to fit most bikes, if you're the sort of person who chooses to give a shit about them.

[Pigman]

A buddy of mine warned that one of the differences between dirt bikes and street bikes is the absence of a cush drive on dirtbikes and many supermotos. The directness of the connection between the wheels and the powertrain with no cush drive sounds like it wears stuff out *much* faster on the street. Well, that's where I'll be 99% of the time, so I'm looking harder at bikes like the Husky TR650 Strada.

Ehhhh No....You can go on SMJ and see there is a ton of people that have tons of street miles on there WR's CRF's and others with no issues. These bikes don't make a ton of HP torque so its relaly not an issue at all.

The only real thing I read was a guy with a BigBore Athena kit on a WR450 and he was stripping the rear OEM sprocket bolts but he was not easy on it and Power wheelies on the highway...also went to an aftermarket company with higher strength and no issues after that but he did say it was a BEAST...

[Point37]

an easier option would be to just put on a kush sprocket...

http://www.supermotojunkie.com/showt...Kush-Sprockets
http://www.supermotojunkie.com/showt...=kush+sprocket
http://www.supermotojunkie.com/showt...cket-on-XR650R
http://www.supermotojunkie.com/showt...=kush+sprocket

[feralchimp]

Y'all are awesome. Thanks!

[B440]

RAD manufacturing makes a cush hub for lots of bikes.

http://www.radmfg.com/Cush-Series-RE...radh-eq-1r.htm